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Denny Barney, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, watches as U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

Denny Barney, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, watches as U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

John Giles, mayor of Mesa, along with U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

John Giles, mayor of Mesa, along with U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

People raise their question cards for John Giles, mayor of Mesa, and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs as they take part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

People raise their question cards for John Giles, mayor of Mesa, and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs as they take part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

People raise their question cards for John Giles, mayor of Mesa, and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs as they take part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

People raise their question cards for John Giles, mayor of Mesa, and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs as they take part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

Denny Barney, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, watches as U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

Denny Barney, chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, watches as U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs takes part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

People raise their question cards for John Giles, mayor of Mesa, and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs as they take part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs at Mesa town hall

People raise their question cards for John Giles, mayor of Mesa, and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs as they take part in a town hall meeting at Without Walls Church on April 11, 2017, in Mesa.
David Kadlubowski/The Republic

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U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., introduced the Pay Our Protectors Act, which would apply to "excepted employees" of the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation and Security Administration and the E-Verify program.(Photo: David Wallace/The Republic)

One of Arizona's most ardent supporters of the partial government shutdown wants regular pay for those who are now working without it to secure the border.

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., introduced a bill Wednesday called the Pay Our Protectors Act that would apply to "excepted employees" of the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation and Security Administration and the E-Verify program.

The shutdown over President Donald Trump's demand for nearly $6 billion for a border wall began Dec. 22 and is approaching the longest in at least the past 40 years. It affects an estimated 800,000 federal workers.

Biggs suggested his bill is needed to protect those hurt by the shutdown that he blames on Democrats.

Senate Minority Leader "Chuck Schumer and (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi make a daily decision to continue this government shutdown because they refuse to secure our border and fund the border wall," Biggs said in a statement. "As a result of their obstruction, thousands of people defending our nation are at risk of missing at least one paycheck. This is wrong.

"These courageous individuals should be at the top of our payment schedule, not pawns for the Democrats to exploit for their political agenda. I call on my colleagues to provide the resources they need to address the crisis at the southern border."

Although Biggs blames the shutdown on Democratic leadership, public opinion appears to be with them, at least for now. A Reuters/Ipsos poll earlier this week found that 51 percent of those questioned said Trump "deserves most of the blame" for the impasse compared to 32 percent mainly blaming Democrats. Other polling has found Trump shouldering most of the blame in the public's eyes.

Arizona's congressional delegation has so far toed the partisan lines as the shutdown reached its 19th day on Wednesday.

U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, D-Ariz., has been among the more outspoken voices in his party from Arizona.

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"Terrorists are not coming over the Southern border, despite repeated lies peddled by Trump administration officials," Grijalva said in a tweet Wednesday. "Experts and government agencies agree that the Southern border poses no imminent national security threat."

Terrorists are not coming over the Southern border, despite repeated lies peddled by Trump administration officials. Experts and government agencies agree that the Southern border poses no imminent national security threat. #NoBorderWallhttps://t.co/0oHVzFo2iB